Some time ago I decided to start a wonderful exercise program (thank you, Jane Fonda) and I was happy to see how easy the workout was, “all” of it. It pleased me to see that, after all, I was not as “non-fit” as I thought, I found myself quite good at performing all the parts of the workout and I therefore began feeling kind of “proud” of myself. After a few weeks, though, I started to realize that some of the exercises were a little more difficult than before. They were the ones that concerned the weakest area in my body.
This puzzled me. Shouldn’t I become fitter and fitter day after day, on a regular basis? Why this kind of setback?
At this point, when something similar happens to you — you, too, start wondering about this weird situation. Doubts creep into your mind and you think, “What’s going on here? What’s wrong with me?” The previous state of happiness and self-assurance changes its face, and becomes incertitude.
You start experiencing a decrease in self-confidence. You feel insecure.
You believe there is something “wrong” with you. This, of course, doesn’t happen only with physical exercise. It is a sensation that is frequently experienced any time you start something well, when everything seems to be going strong, but then it does not continue being as successful as you had expected. So? Why this setback?
As I always endeavor to find explanations to seemingly illogical stuff that every now and then takes place (actually, on an almost daily basis) in my life, I took the time to think about the reversal in the result of my fitness workout, and came up with a consideration. This could possibly mean that — during exercise as well as in life — when “you” (and I) believe that everything comes easily to you and you start feeling “all powerful”, you are — sometimes kindly, other times not so kindly - reminded that you are not as strong as you believe you are.
What to do? “Persist” is the useful word you need here, along with trust in yourself and commitment. Actually, you “are” as strong as you think you can be, but reaching the highest rung on the ladder takes some effort.
Here we go again. Effort… commitment… trust… Well, the seven notes are always the same, but the music you can create with them is different, according to how you decide to use them.
Therefore, you absolutely must commit yourself to overcoming the obstacle.
Continue exercising even if it is a bit painful, go on studying although the exam is very difficult, work on your project, stick to the diet … and you will see the needle of the scale moving to the left! Go on facing your challenges because this is what life is about. The road might be straight for a while, then it abruptly turns, and you must be able to make a suitable change of direction. Later you might find a boulder that blocks your step, and you need to find the way to overcome the obstacle. You may encounter disappointment on your path (and you will… more than once!), so it’s important for you to know how to deal with it, without giving in to upset or desperation. Doubts will attack your self-confidence and you will feel incapable of pursuing your goal. Here you need the strength to defeat the uncertainty about who you really are and about what you can actually do.
To the question I am frequently asked about how to put Positive Thinking principles into practice, my only answer is, over and over, “After understanding and accepting these concepts, all you need is
1. to believe you can do it (whatever your enterprise is)
2. to commit yourself to doing it
3. to go ahead and… do it!
You won’t achieve outstanding results if you behave like the lady who, inviting her friend out, said to her, “Let’s go shopping. I need some exercise”. If you do the same, you — like that lady — will only cheat yourself!

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